Picture frames



Oct 4, 1960 G. H. HULL 2,954,630

' PICTURE FRAMES Filed April 10, 1959 INVENTOR GEORGE H. HULL rsATTORNEYS PICTURE FRAMES George H. Hull, 108 Forest Drive, Short Hills,NJ.

Filed Apr. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 805,393 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-1521 Thisinvention relates to picture frames, display cases, trays and the likefor storing and displaying photographs, pictures in magazines, watercolor and oil paintings, reproductions of the same, picture postcards,stamp collections and other ornamental objects or displays.

This is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 733,926,filed May 8, 1958.

Cases have been provided heretofore in which a number of art objects,for example, artist canvases or boards, etchings or other art work canbe stored and carried. It is old, also, to provide picture frames inwhich a picture can be demountably inserted so that the picture can beremoved and replaced as desired. Such frames and storage devices usuallyare flimsily constructed and are not capable of serving both as adisplay device and a storage case and particularly of enabling readyinterchange of objects or articles to be displayed therein.

In accordance with the present invention, I have provided frames forpictures, cases, trays and the like in which a plurality of articles,such as postcards, photographs, pages of magazines, artist canvases orboards, and the like, can be supported and segregated or isolated fromeach other, the frames having an open side through which at least one ofthe articles therein can be displayed. One side of the frame is hingedor movable to permit access to the interior thereof and to facilitatethe interchange or removal of the articles.

More particularly, in a preferred form of the frame, the bottom and twoside walls thereof are formed of strips of wood, such as picture framemolding, or similar material. The bottom and side walls are suitablygrooved to receive and support a plurality of the articles mentionedabove. A single picture or a magazine, for example, having a picturetherein, and a cover glass and backing board can be inserted into theframe adjacent to its open side in a position for viewing. One end ofthe frame is arranged to complete the picture frame and also serve as alid for the open side of the frame and is suitably hinged so that it canbe readily moved from closed to open position.

Unique means are provided for holding the movable side or lid inposition when the frame is closed and at the same time enabling readyopening of the lid to gain access to the interior of the case forinsertion, changing or removal of the articles stored or displayedtherein.

Moreover, the frames embodying the present invention are provided withnovel and convenient means for hanging them or supporting them in anupright position on a table, shelf, mantel or other horizontal surface.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a rear perspective view of a typical picture frame and caseembodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front perspective View of the frame in an open position;

Figure 3 is a view in section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

- magazine or the like may be inserted therein.

2,954,630 Patented Oct. 4, 1960 ice Figure 4 is a front perspective viewof a modified frame embodying the present invention, with the lidthereof in a partially open position; and

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the frame shown in Figure 4,showing a modified form of back rest therefor.

Frames and cases of the type embodying the invention can be constructedto form a standing or hanging picture frame of any suitable size. Thepicture frame illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 embodies the presentinvention and is suitable for hanging on the wall or use on a desk,table, or the like. This picture frame 10 includes a backing member 11formed of composition board, plywood or the like. Two side and bottomstrips 12, 13 and 14 are secured to the backing member. If desired, thebacking member 11 may be formed of glass or transparent plastic, if itis desired to display pictures or other art work simultaneously atopposite sides of the frame. The backing member 11 strengthens theentire frame assembly and strongly reinforces the three strips 12, '13and 14. Each of the strips 12 to 14 is provided with an internal grooveor rabbet 15 of substantial width so that a plurality of articles suchas postcards or a complete A sheet of glass 16 is disposed in front ofthe groove 15 to protect the picture or the like in the groove. Theupper end closure or lid 17 of the frame 10 is formed of a strip of woodor the like which can be secured in any of several different ways, onebeing by means of a hinge such as a strip of tape or fabric 18 adheredto the upper edge of the backing member 11 and the lid 17. In this way,the lid 17 can be brought down into engagement with the upper ends ofthe side frames 12 and 13 to complete the frame, or it may be swung tothe open position shown in Figure 2 to enable the frame to be filled oremptied or the picture displayed therein to be changed.

The lid 17 can be secured in its closed position in any of a number ofdifferent ways. A simple, inexpensive and effective retainer consists ofan elastic band 19 which extends along a groove 20 in the upper edge ofthe lid 17 down along grooves 21 and '22 in the sides of the side strips12 and 13 around pins 23 disposed therein and across the back of thebacking member 11. The pins 23 can be drawn out to loop the band aroundthem and then can be pressed into the grooves so that they are notvisible from in front.

Another and preferred form of retaining mechanism includes a screw eye24 mounted in the inside of the lid 17. The screw eye 24 passes throughan elongated slot 25 in the back member 11 when the frame is closed andwhen turned crosswise of the position shown in Figures 1 to 3, locks thelid 17 in the closed position. The horizontally disposed eye 24 canreceive a picture frame hook or the like to hang the frame on the wall.Also, the screw eye 24 serves as a convenient point of connection for aback rest 26 for the frame. A notch 27 in the upper end of the back rest26 receives the screw eye and a removable pin 28 extends through theback rest and the screw eye to connect them. Notches 29 and 30 areformed in the back rest 26 to receive the elastic member 19 and therebybrace the back rest and the frame 10 against falling.

Other arrangements may be provided for connecting the back rest to theframe, such as, for example, a screw hook in the upper end of the backrest 26 for engage ment in the screw eye 24.

A modification of the frame including a novel form of back rest is shownin Figures 4 and 5.. This form of frame 30 is similar to the framedescribed above. It has three fixed sides 31, 32 and 33 and a hingedfourth side 34, all of the sides being connected to a back board 35.

The frame 30 thus is generally the same as the frame described above andit may also include the peripheral groove 36 for receiving an elasticmember 37 by means of which the lid or side.34 is retained in closedposition. Also, it may include an eye member 38 on the lid or side 34and a cooperating slot 39 in the back 35 of the frame.

' A feature of the frame disclosed in Figures 4 and is the provision ofa back rest 46 of novel type which may be used to hold the frame withits narrow edges vertical or horizontal, as may be desired. To that end,the back board 35 is provided with a pair of slots 41 and 42 disposedparallel to the frame edges 33 and 32, respectively, for receiving thedownwardly extending prongs 43and 44 on a crossbar 45 on the back restn1em ber 40. The crossbar 45 is connected to a generally L-shaped pieceof Wire or rod 46 or the like, so that when the prongs 43 and 44 arehooked in the slot 41, for example, the shorter leg 46a of the rodengages the back board 35 of the frame while the longer leg 46b of therod 46 extends rearwardly to engage the top of a desk, table or otherhorizontal support. The back rest 44) may be formedof die cast plasticor metal, of metal or plastic rod, sheet or strip,- as may be desired.The prongs 43 and 44 which extend generally parallel to the leg 46a andin the opposite direction are relatively thin and flat so that they willnot interfere with the pictures stored in the inner groove or rabbet 47in the frame. If desired, the prongs 43 and 44 and the crossbar may takethe form ofa thin flange fixed to the L-shaped member at about thejunction of the legs 46a and 46b and extending outwardly from the leg46b in the opposite direction fromthe leg 46a but generally paralleltherewith. The ends of the legs of the L-shaped member 46, 46a and 46bmay be rounded, enlarged or provided with protective tips to preventscratching.

. The frame 30 can be modified considerably, if desired.

For example, one of the narrower frame edges 31 or 33, rather thanthelonger frame edge 34, can be hinged or movable relative to the back.Moreover, the back 35 may be provided with an aperture 48 for receivinga nail or hook for hanging the frame or into which the eye 38 may bescrewed. The slot 48 may also coact with the eye 38 to lock the frameedge 31 in closed position if it is used as the lid for the frame.Likewise, the peripheral groove 36 may be provided with pins similar topins 23 around which the elastic member 37 can be looped to hold themovable edge or lid 34 closed. Moreover, if desired, the pins may bearranged near the upper ends of the side members 31 and 33 so that theycan be pushed into holes in' the opposite ends of the lid 34, thereby tohold it in closed position without the use of the elastic member 37.

Frame and storage devices of the type described are simple in structure,can be readily constructed With a minimum of expensive hardware fittingsand are, nevertheless, very strong and durable and serve the multiplepurpose of storage and display with the maximum of protection of thearticle or articles therein.

It will be understood that the frames can be made of various types ofmaterials, including Wood moldings, plastic or metal sheets andextrusions and the like, depending upon requirements and the appearancesought. Accordingly, the forms of the invention described herein shouldbe considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A storage and display device comprising a pair of substantiallyparallel side walls, an end wall connected to one end of each side walland extending substantially perpendicular thereto, said walls having aninternal groove therein for receiving a plurality of thin articles and atransparent panel, a lid for engaging the ends of said side wallsopposite from said end wall, a groove in the outer surfaces of each ofsaid side and end walls and said lid, said grooves being in end-to-endrelation whensaid lid engages the ends of said side walls, an endlesselastic member engaging in the groove in said lid and extending at leastpartially along the length of the grooves on said side walls for urgingsaid lid against the ends of said side walls, a backing member securedto said side and end walls, a fastener member having a loop attached tothe interior of said lid, and slot in said backing member through whichsaid loop extends .when said lid engages said sidewalls, said fastenermember being turnable relative to said lid and backing member to disposesaid loop cross-wise of said slot on the outside of said backing memberto lock said lid to said backing member.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 in which said endless elastic memberextends lengthwise of the groove in said lid, along the grooves in saidside walls and across the side walls between their ends to urge said lidresiliently toward the ends of said side walls.

3. The device set forth in claim 1 comprising a back rest for saidpicture frame, and means on said back rest engageable with said eyemember, said elastic member and said backing member for supporting themin angular relation.

4. A picture frame comprising a case having a back, side walls and abottom wall, said case having an open side bounded by said side andbottom walls, each of said walls having internal grooves therein forreceiving a plurality of thin, flat articles, at least one of saidgrooves being adjacent to said open side for receiving an article and atransparent cover member, a lid hinged to said back and movable into andout of engagement with the upper ends of said side walls to formtherewith a frame for the displaced article, said back having anoncircular aperture therein adjacent to' said lid, and a non-circularfastening member having a loop portion rotatably mounted on said lid,said non-circular fasteningmember being rotatable to one position inwhich said loop portion coincides with and is movable into and throughsaid aperture, and to another position in which said loop portion isdisposed cross-wise of said aperture and in engagement with said back tolock said lid against substantial movement relative to said back.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,611,465 LeskieWicz Dec. 21, 1926 2,731,748 Polay Jan. 24, 19562,769,261 Laughlin Nov. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 461,045 Great BritainFeb. 9, 1937 597,247 France Aug. 25, 1925 705,420 France Mar. 9, 1931834,915 Germany Mar. 24,1952

